# NTSB LAX95LA118: Cessna A-188B, N731CZ, Elmira, CA, February 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1995, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Elmira, CA - Coordinates: 38.359954, -121.910446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3600&lon=-121.9104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29043/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA118 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft after an inadvertent encounter with the wake turbulence from a preceding agricultural aircraft while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application ## Analysis THE PILOT COMPLETED HIS SECOND SWATH RUN AND ROLLED INTO A 90-270 DEGREE TURN AT ABOUT 100-FEET AGL. AFTER ROLLING FROM THE LEFT BACK TO THE RIGHT, HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTER AN AREA OF TURBULENT AIR. BELIEVING THAT HE HAD INADVERTENTLY FLOWN ACROSS THE VORTEX TURBULENCE GENERATED BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA, HE SAID THE TURBULENCE CAUSED HIS AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND BEFORE HE COULD REACT AND RECOVER. THE PILOT STATED, THAT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT'S GROSS WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,700 POUNDS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 23, 1995, at 1130 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna A-188B, N731CZ, collided with the ground while maneuvering 1.5 miles south of Elmira, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by an agricultural operator and was conducting an aerial application flight under 14 CFR Part 137 of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certified commercial pilot was not injured. The flight originated from a private agricultural strip in Dixon, California, at 1110 on the day of the accident. The pilot completed his second swath run on a heading of 225 degrees and rolled into a 90-270 degree turn at about 100-feet agl. The pilot reported that, after rolling from the left back to right, he felt the aircraft encounter an area of turbulent air near the surface. He stated that he believed that he had inadvertently flown across the vortex turbulence generated by another aircraft that had just departed the area he was working. He said the turbulence caused his aircraft to descend abruptly which resulted in the aircraft's right wing contacting the ground before he could react and recover. After colliding with the ground by the right wing and right gear, the aircraft rolled onto its right side before coming to rest. The pilot stated that at the time of accident, the aircraft's gross weight was approximately 3,700 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731CZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731CZ-2013-08-28), registration cancelled 2013-08-28, S/N 18802803T, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A-188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802803T - Airframe hours: 3757 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: William & Margret Joslin, doing business as William D. Joslin - Registered owner: William & Margret Joslin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1994, 189 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,294 total, 84 in this make and model, 1,223 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SUU, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950223002339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950223002339A), Feb 23, 1995: Cessna A188B, Elmira, CA, Substantial damage. Entered other spray planes vortex during low altitude turn around. Settled. Wing hit ground. Aircraft rolled over. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.